Cambodia-Vietnam by Land (going solo)

1.
Posted byemmsicle(Budding Member 8 posts) 10y
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Hi There,Im Planning to somehow journey overland from Phnom Phen to Ho Chi Minh in late July. Things that may pose a problem is that I am a young female and will be travelling solo. (plus its my first time overseas apart from Fiji - may be a bit of a culture shock). I really would prefer to go by road rather than fly, and if anyone could give me some tips/general information it would be greatly appreciated.Thanks very much.p.s if anyone has any "unmissables" in Vietnam feel free to let me know

2.
Posted byDegolasse(Travel Guru 823 posts) 10y
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Niether the fact that you are female, nor the fact that you are solo pose any problem whatsoever. The easiest way to get between these destinations is to ask at your hotel for bus tickets to HCMC. They will no doubt pick you up right at your hotel, and on your bus you will find it full of other travellers just like yourself. It really it that easy. The only problem that could possibly stand in your way is a Visa. Make sure you already have your Vietnam Visa sorted before hand.

i travelled in the opposite way - from HCMC to PP and its perfectly safe for a lone female, in my opinion. it's a common route and it will be very easy to organise tickets through your hotel/guest house.

6.
Posted byemmsicle(Budding Member 8 posts) 10y
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Thanks very much everyone for all the help! feel much more at ease now.

7.
Posted byclaireh(Respected Member 318 posts) 10y
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No problem at all....I took a bus from PP to Saigon. I think it was the GST Express service. We even got brekkie on the bus and it had a toilet!!! There is no problem whatsoever. Same bus all the way and it drops you right in backpackersville. A little more expensive than the average tour operator, but recommended to me and I know why! They also arrange to pick you up from your hotel (although, do check this). There is also the Open Tour service that does this route and they are usually pretty good. Or...you can take a boat and even merge the journey into a Mekong Delta tour.... Don't worry about doing it alone, you will be fine.

My fave part of Vietnam was kayaking around Halong Bay..!

8.
Posted byjadeverell(Respected Member 255 posts) 10y
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I would recommend getting the boat up the Mekong river. You can do a trek in the Mekong and maybe do a family. The tour takes you al the way from HCMC to PP and stops of at a customs to sort your vista out. you can also meet some amazing people on the boats and not to mention the scenary!! quality.

9.
Posted byjadeverell(Respected Member 255 posts) 10y
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oh and def do Ho ain in vietnam. an amazing little village with a french atmosphere. Also great food and night life!

10.
Posted bystokesy(Budding Member 76 posts) 10y
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Hi, just got back from Cambodia and Vietnam, buses in Cambodia are the Mekong Express, first class travel with food, drink and toilet on board and cheap. In Vietnam, its the open tour bus that takes you anywhere, not so good and the Mekong E but safe and cheap. Lots of lone females and males on these buses and so easy to get acquainted as everyone is ion the same boat, good luck stokesy